SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Straight Talk Commentary - Statewide elected offices each have their own unique function. Broadly the functions can be broken down into either ministerial or regulatory - with the exception that the Governor has the ultimate responsibility and authority for public safety and the function of providing broad leadership to enhance the quality of life in our State.

The Attorney General serves as our chief law enforcement officer and the Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and Commissioner of School & Public Lands all have ministerial jobs. The Public Utilities Commissioners jobs are regulatory in nature.

The contentiousness of elections, changes in election laws, and federal election laws in conjunction with the competence of Secretary of State Chris Nelson has raised his profile beyond that of just filing documents. The other three “ministers” are just that: They collect money, pay bills, and lease state lands – nothing less or not much more.

Our PUC Commissioners however have broadly expanded their work of overseeing utilities, trucking, and grain elevators to promoting economic development. Commissioner’s Sahr and Johnson have been on the forefront in promoting wind development, wireless communications, and expanding the generation and distribution of electricity. They have always done this in a matter that put consumers first.

This is precisely why it is interesting to see today’s story that Dusty Johnson who has been a tireless worker for rural development gave the commencement address at the Mitchell Technical Institute. Dusty is a generational peer to many of the graduates. Having a speaker more their own age is refreshing and his message may actually resonate better than perhaps a more prestigious speaker like Tim Johnson or Mike Rounds.

Commissioner Johnson could not be more on point when speaking to the need of individuals to volunteer and work for the betterment of their communities.

By Ross Dolan

The Daily Republic

May 13, 2006

During his speech at Mitchell Technical Institute's annual graduation ceremony, keynote speaker Dusty Johnson on Friday told MTI graduates to slow down and contribute to their families and communities.

Johnson, a member of the state Public Utilities Commission, told the 330 students who received diplomas at the Corn Palace that technology has increased the rate of change in the world, and that's not always a good thing.

Rates of volunteerism have plummeted in the last 30 years," Johnson said. "It used to be two-thirds of Americans regularly participated in club meetings and now two-thirds never do."

The students came from 113 South Dakota communities and earned diplomas from 19 programs. There were 212 associate of applied science degrees, 38 two-year diplomas and 80 one-year diplomas.

Members of the Mitchell Board of Education shared the duties of passing out diplomas.

Johnson, of Mitchell, joked that his speech was a year late. Johnson was ready to speak at 2005 commencement ceremonies when he received notice that his wife was in labor with their first-born son, Max.

"I'm going to make sure Max is properly attired," he said, holding up a tiny, "I love MTI" T-shirt."

The speed of change was a major theme in Johnson's speech.

"I'm a pretty young fellow," he said, "but when I graduated from high school, I had never spoken on a cell phone or sent an e-mail, and I had never been on the World Wide Web."

As a high school junior in 1993, Johnson said there were 300 Web sites on the Internet. Also, there were few cell phones. "Today, there are 4 billion Web sites out there and more cell phones than home phones."

Technology has improved lives and reduced the cost of communication, said Johnson, but it has not improved personal relationships. Using the new technical skills they learned comes with obligations, he told graduates.

"Our first obligation is to do well," he said. "We need to participate in that advancement and do the best we can." He said MTI grads are "well-prepared to make that contribution."

The second obligation is to become involved with others. People spend 40 percent less time visiting with friends than they did 30 years ago. While children may spend four hours a week with their father, they spend 38 hours a week surfing the Web or playing video games, he said.

The things that are important don't move at the speed of light, said Johnson. He recommended:

Turning off the TV or video game and joining a local organization.

Being generous. Spend some money on others, not more high-tech toys.

Being a strong parent. Nothing matters more to a child than a parent's love.

MTI President and CEO Chris Paustian said later, "It was a good graduation. I really enjoyed Dusty's remarks." He called Johnson a "rising" political star.

But the day was really about the graduates and their families. Rose Dykstra, 42, of Stickney strode confidently across the stage to collect her diploma - the only woman to graduate from the 16-person architectural design and building program. Two other women in the program dropped out. "It was a rough crowd," she said with a laugh.

She was congratulated afterward by family, including her three sons, Ty, Tuff and Bronc, whom she called "my little cowboys." Dykstra said she took the building course because, "I wanted to learn how to remodel. I've always liked house design."

Linda and Steve Marcus of Huron and their daughter, Laura McKee of Sioux Falls, attended to watch their son and brother, Christ, 31, graduate from his second MTI program. Christ Marcus graduated from the SCADA Engineering Technology program and hopes to get a job in the power industry.

He will start a temporary job next week to pay the bills while he pursues a job with the Western Area Power Administration. He traveled 100 miles from Huron to Mitchell and back each day in his V-8 Mercury Cougar. High gasoline costs depleted his bank account, he said. "It's time to get to work," Marcus said. "The bank was sending me 'love notes.' "